Woodburn Independent Online

HCC opposes sale of Maletis brothers land to Klamath Tribe

• By: Rachel Cavanaugh  
• Published: 2/12/2010 2:45:23 PM

Photo By: Rachel CavanaughHubbard City Council
Tyler Smith and Angie Wheatcroft are both opposed to sale of land north of Aurora to the Klamath Tribe. Smith, however, says he is not opposed to development.

HUBBARD — The Hubbard City Council has drafted a letter to the governor and local politicians protesting a possible land deal north of the Aurora State Airport.
 
The deal, reported to be brewing between landowners Chris and Tom Maletis and the Klamath Tribes, concerns land where Langdon Farms Golf Club is located.
 
The current concern is that if the tribe acquired the land, it could use a 1986 law (Klamath Indian Tribe Restoration Act) to make the property tribal. If that were to happen, all tribal laws and regulations would apply.
 
“If this interpretation of the act were to be upheld, serious consequences could ensue for many jurisdictions — at the local, state and federal levels,” reads the letter addressed to Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden.
 
“One could assume that other developers could employ the Klamath Tribe to use the act as a tool to circumvent federal, state and local laws and ordinances.”
 
According to the letter, the act allows the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to take into trust for the tribe lands that are located anywhere — even in areas where the Klamath Tribe has no historical or ancestral roots.
 
The document, signed by the Hubbard mayor and all four councilors, is scheduled to be carbon copied to Governor Ted Kulongoski, Congressmen David Wu, Kurt Schrader, Earl Blumenauer, Greg Walden and Peter Defazio.
 
The Maletis property has now been the subject of controversy for over a year, with protesters arguing the area should remain farmland.
 
Hubbard councilor Tyler Smith said, however, that their council’s objections are strictly to the tribe receiving special treatment.
 
“I’m not opposed to development in the area,” said Smith. “I want there to be more jobs, I want there to be development in the general area. I want to expand the economy. … My opposition is that they’re being given special rights to come up from their ancestral area down in Klamath up to the Willamette Valley, which is not anywhere that they’ve ever had land on or that they historically lived. That’s my objection.”
 
Councilor Angie Wheatcroft echoed similar sentiment. She noted that she has been involved with the issue for a long time and is strongly against any possible deal with the Klamath tribe.
 
“I’m definitely, definitely very opposed to them getting the land,” said Wheatcroft. “They’re 200 miles away from where their tribe is. … They shouldn’t be able to come wherever they want to come and take land that isn’t their tribal land.”
 
In the letter, councilors call the matter of “grave importance” to governments, businesses and other tribes, pointing out how other American Indian tribes could be disadvantaged.
 
“We support business expansion in our area and encourage economic growth, however we oppose any attempts by Congress or other government entities to pass out special rights and privileges to some, at the expense of others,” it reads.
 
“As a city, we oppose government action which extends special rights and special privileges based upon race, alienage or national origin.”
 
There have long been suspicions by some that a casino could be in the works.
 
Marion County has drafted a separate letter addressing that agency’s concerns.
 
The city of Wilsonville has also drafted a letter outlining its objections to the land becoming tribal, as well as opposition to development of the property in general.
 
Wilsonville has solicited other local governments to sign on; however, Smith emphasized Hubbard has different objections. For that reason, they wouldn’t sign the letter as written.
 
“I will not support anything that is … anti-development, anti-growth,” said Smith. “We need jobs.”
 
The letter Hubbard wrote is slated to be signed by Councilor Bruce Warner, Councilor Matt Kennedy and Mayor Jim Yonally, in addition to Smith and Wheatcroft. It is expected to be sent out some time next week.

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